In spite of the rich assortment in culture and fine arts, India is yet to come up with a comprehensive and constructive study on the impact of music and culture on personality development.
This is the reason behind the “Seminar on transformative music and music education” where perspectives from research, policies and practice from around the world would be discussed by delegates assembled for the three-day seminar at the National Gallery for Modern Art which concludes on September 24.
“We are coming to terms with the idea that a lot more has to be done to create awareness about the impact of music on the development of an individual,” says Vikram Sampath of Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts, the organisers of the Seminar in association with the International Society for Music Education.
Vikram explains that the West offers enormous scientific studies on the cognitive development that music, art and culture can impact, while a lot needs to be quantified in terms of culture and its impact on human mind and brain in India. What is it that can be explained in this sphere is what the three-day seminar will unfold, he says.
The keynote address in this first of its kind seminar delivered by Kiran Seth, Founder, SPICMACAY said, “We are always taking the IQ of children into consideration in their development with respect to their mind, focus, concentration, talent and education. That being important, the need to look into EQ (Emotional quotient) and SQ (Spiritual Quotient) is equally paramount for this is what makes one develop a “complete personality.”
Mr. Seth said having been associated with SPICMACAY from 1977 in 500 chapter across the world he has “actually seen the personality transformation that art introduction can bring about.”
The seminar has educators, musicologists and musicians gathered from several universities including the University of Queensland, Cambridge, Australia, U.S, and major universities from across India. Prof. Margaret Barret of ISME, is looking at long-term collaborations with educative and music institutes of India, adds Vikram.
